Processing of preferred roaming lists

ABSTRACT

Processing of preferred roaming lists is disclosed. Usage data about wireless communication networks as utilized by a plurality of mobile apparatuses each associated with a set of subscriber identity modules performing subscriber identification and authentication in the wireless communication networks is gathered. Subscriber identity module-specific preferred roaming lists are updated on the basis of the usage data. The updated preferred roaming lists are distributed for use by the sets of the subscriber identity modules in the plurality of the mobile apparatuses.

FIELD

The invention relates to processing of preferred roaming lists,especially in a server apparatus and in a mobile apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Five previous US patent applications by the Applicant, Ser. Nos.13/739,479, 13/739,449, 13/742,911, 13/851,405, and 13/855,255, disclosevarious apparatuses utilizing a set of subscriber identity modules (SIM)for one user of a mobile apparatus. A preferred roaming list on eachsubscriber identity module instructs the mobile apparatus of wirelesscommunication networks and their utilization. However, as the subscriberidentity modules are not designed for such sophisticated use as sets,the management of multiple subscriber identity modules and theirpreferred roaming lists requires further ideas.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The present invention seeks to provide an improved server apparatus, animproved mobile apparatus, and an improved method.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided aserver apparatus comprising: a data communication interface; one or moreprocessors; and one or more memories including computer program code;the one or more memories and the computer program code configured to,with the one or more processors, cause the server apparatus at least to:receive, with the data communication interface, usage data aboutwireless communication networks as utilized by a plurality of mobileapparatuses each associated with a set of subscriber identity modulesperforming subscriber identification and authentication in the wirelesscommunication networks; update subscriber identity module-specificpreferred roaming lists on the basis of the usage data; and transmit,with the data communication interface, the updated preferred roaminglists for use by the sets of the subscriber identity modules in theplurality of the mobile apparatuses.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda mobile apparatus comprising: a data communication interface; one ormore processors; and one or more memories including computer programcode; the one or more memories and the computer program code configuredto, with the one or more processors, cause the mobile apparatus at leastto: transmit, with the data communication interface, usage data aboutwireless communication networks as utilized by the mobile apparatusassociated with a set of subscriber identity modules performingsubscriber identification and authentication in the wirelesscommunication networks; and receive, with the data communicationinterface, updated preferred roaming lists for use by the set of thesubscriber identity modules, which preferred roaming lists have beenupdated in a server apparatus on the basis of usage data about wirelesscommunication networks as utilized by a plurality of mobile apparatuseseach associated with a set of subscriber identity modules performingidentification and authentication in the wireless communicationnetworks.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method comprising: gathering usage data about wireless communicationnetworks as utilized by a plurality of mobile apparatuses eachassociated with a set of subscriber identity modules performingsubscriber identification and authentication in the wirelesscommunication networks; updating subscriber identity module-specificpreferred roaming lists on the basis of the usage data; and distributingthe updated preferred roaming lists for use by the sets of thesubscriber identity modules in the plurality of the mobile apparatuses.

LIST OF DRAWINGS

Example embodiments of the present invention are described below, by wayof example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 illustrate example embodiments of a serverapparatus and a mobile apparatus;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example embodiment of a wireless communicationsystem;

FIG. 7 illustrates example embodiments relating to usage data andupdated preferred roaming lists; and

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating example embodiments of a method andexample embodiments of both the server apparatus and the mobileapparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The following embodiments are only examples. Although the specificationmay refer to “an” embodiment in several locations, this does notnecessarily mean that each such reference is to the same embodiment(s),or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment. Single featuresof different embodiments may also be combined to provide otherembodiments. Furthermore, words “comprising” and “including” should beunderstood as not limiting the described embodiments to consist of onlythose features that have been mentioned and such embodiments may containalso features/structures that have not been specifically mentioned.

It should be noted that while Figures illustrate various embodiments ofa mobile apparatus 110 and a server apparatus 140, they are simplifiedblock diagrams that only show some structures and functional entities.The connections shown in these Figures are logical connections; theactual physical connections may be different. It is apparent to a personskilled in the art that the described mobile apparatus 110 and theserver apparatus 140 may also comprise other functions and structures.It should be appreciated that details of some functions, structures, andthe protocols used for communication are irrelevant to the actualinvention. Therefore, they need not be discussed in more detail here.Although the mobile apparatus 110 and the server apparatus 140 have beendepicted as comprising separate single entities, different parts may beimplemented in one or more physical or logical entities; it all dependson design choices and the required level of integration.

FIG. 1 illustrates example embodiments of an operation environment.Mobile apparatuses 110, 120 utilize a wireless communication network 100with the help of a server apparatus 140. The mobile apparatuses 110, 120communicate 154, 156, 158, 160 over a communication network 130 witheach other. The communication network 130 may or may not comprise a partof the wireless communication network 100.

FIG. 2 illustrates the structures of the mobile apparatus 110 and theserver apparatus 140 in more detail.

As shown in FIG. 1, each mobile apparatus 110, 120 comprises aninterface 118, 128 to a set 112, 122 of subscriber identity (SIM)modules 114, 116, 124, 126 of the wireless communication network 100.The interface 118, 128 may or may not include a (contact) smart cardreader capable of reading the subscriber data through the contacts ofthe integrated circuit.

The number of the mobile apparatuses 110, 120 may vary from 2 to N,wherein N is any integer greater than two.

The number of the subscriber identity modules 114, 116, 124, 126 mayvary according to the circumstances, but there are at least threesubscriber identity modules 114, 116, 124, 126 in each set 112, 122. Onesubscriber identity module may be a default subscriber identity moduleused normally (in user's home location or in a network where he/she hasthe coverage of the default subscriber identity module, for example).The number of the subscriber identity modules 114, 116, 124, 126 in eachset 112, 122 may vary from 3 to K, wherein K is any integer greater thanthree.

In an example embodiment, the subscriber identity module 114, 116, 124,126 is an integrated circuit storing subscriber data, which isnetwork-specific information used to authenticate and identifysubscribers on the network 100. The subscriber identity module 114, 116,124, 126 may be embedded into a removable SIM card. First SIM cards wereof credit card size, 85.60 mm×53.98 mm×0.76 mm, but a newer mini-SIMcard is considerably smaller, 25 mm×15 mm×0.76 mm, or a micro-SIM cardis even smaller, 15 mm×12 mm×0.76 mm. However, these measures are onlyexample embodiments. It is also to be noted than one physical SIM cardmay include a number of different subscriptions: one SIM card may be amulti-IMSI SIM card having many different subscriber identities in thesame card. Even a virtual subscriber identity module 114, 116, 124, 126is feasible: it is a mobile phone number provided by a mobile networkoperator 102, 104 that does not require a SIM card to connect phonecalls to the user's mobile terminal. In such a scenario, a memory of themobile apparatus 110, 120 may be used to store subscriber data of thevirtual subscriber identity module 114, 116, 124, 126 as required.

Besides preferred roaming lists 230, 232, the subscriber identitymodules 114, 116, 124, 126 may also include other data enablingutilization 150, 152 of the wireless communication network 100 such asdata relating to subscriber identification and authentication. Datarelating to the subscriber identity modules 114, 116, 124, 126 mayinclude, for example, a unique serial number (Integrated Circuit CardIdentifier, ICCID) of the SIM card, internationally unique number of thesubscriber (International Mobile Subscriber Identity, IMSI), securityauthentication and ciphering information for the subscriber (such as anauthentication key Ki), temporary information related to the localnetwork, a list of the services the subscriber has access to, anoperator-specific emergency number, two passwords (personalidentification number, PIN, for ordinary use, and PIN unlock code, PUK,for PIN unlocking), and other required data. The subscriber data mayalso include other carrier-specific data such as the short messageservice centre (SMSC) number, service provider name (SPN), servicedialing numbers (SDN), advice-of-charge parameters, and value addedservice (VAS) applications. Further information may be found in the GSMTechnical Specification 11.11.

Besides being called subscriber identity module, also other names andabbreviations may be used to refer to subscriptions. USIM (UniversalSubscriber Identity Module) is an application for UMTS running on a UICC(Universal Integrated Circuit Card). The USIM is a logical entity on thephysical card storing user subscriber information, authenticationinformation, text messages, and phone book contacts. For authenticationpurposes, the USIM stores a long-term pre-shared secret key, which isshared with the Authentication Centre (AuC) in the network. The USIMalso verifies a sequence number that must be within a range using awindow mechanism to avoid replay attacks, and is in charge of generatingthe session keys to be used in the confidentiality and integrityalgorithms of the KASUMI block cipher in UMTS. The equivalent of USIM onCDMA networks is CSIM.

The wireless communication system 100 may be anystandard/non-standard/proprietary radio system that supports the use ofthe subscriber identity modules 114, 116, 124, 126. In the present, sucha system may be any mobile telephone system, regardless of thegeneration (such as 2G, 3G, 4G, beyond 4G, etc.). Consequently, thewireless communication system may be GSM (Global System for MobileCommunications), WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access),TD-SCDMA (Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access), orevolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA), also known as longterm evolution (LTE) for example, or its recent LTE-Advanced versions(LTE-A). However, the example embodiments are not restricted thereto,but may be applicable to other suitable radio systems (in their presentforms and/or in their evolution forms), such as universal mobiletelecommunications system (UMTS) radio access network (UTRAN or EUTRAN),a system based on International Mobile Telecommunication (IMT) standardor any one of its evolution versions (e.g. IMT-Advanced), wireless localarea network (WLAN) based on IEEE (Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers) 802.11 standard or its evolution versions (IEEE802.11ac), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX),Wi-Fi, 3GPP, Bluetooth®, or personal communications services (PCS).

As the mobile apparatus 110, 120 has the interface 118, 128 to the set112, 122 of the subscriber identity modules 114, 116, 124, 126 thewireless communication network 100 accessible may be operated by one toM operators 102, 104, wherein M is any integer greater than one.

The operator (also known as mobile phone operator, mobile networkoperator, wireless service provider, wireless carrier, cellular company,or mobile network carrier) 102, 104 is a telephone company providingservices for the subscriber. Some examples of the mobile phone operatorsinclude: China Mobile, Vodafone, Orange, TeliaSonera, T-Mobile, VerizonWireless etc. The mobile phone operator 102, 104 gives the subscriberidentity modules 114, 116, 124, 126 to the user, who inserts it into themobile apparatus 110, 120 to gain access to the service. In thedescribed embodiments, the mobile phone operators 102, 104 may firstsupply the service provider with at least some of the subscriberidentity modules 114, 116, 124, 126, whereupon the service providerassembles a suitable set of the subscriber identity modules 114, 116,124, 126, possibly with the mobile apparatus 110, 120 and gives them tothe end-user for use. Other ways of supplying the subscriber identitymodules 114, 116, 124, 126 to the end-user are also feasible: theservice provider may give one or more subscriber identity modules 114,116, 124, 126 to the end-user who will set them to the mobile apparatus110, 120, for example. The mobile phone operator 102, 104 may either ownthe underlying network and spectrum assets required to run the service,or the mobile phone operator may be a virtual one, buying wholesaleservice from the mobile phone operator owning the underlying network andspectrum assets and selling on to its own customers. Even thoughconnections between the subscriber identity modules 114, 116, 124, 126and the operator infrastructure 102, 104 are not shown in FIG. 2, it isclear that such connections exist, as the subscriber identity modules114, 116, 124, 126 remain, in general, under management of theoperators; the service provider only supports their flexible use undervarying circumstances.

The service provider is not illustrated in FIG. 1, but the serviceprovider may be an independent supplier/vendor obtaining the subscriberidentity modules 114, 116, 124, 126 from various network operators 102,104 and compiling them into the sets 112, 122 marketed and sold toend-users (=subscribers).

In an example embodiment, the sets 112, 122 of the subscriber identitymodules 114, 116, 124, 126 comprise prepaid subscriber identity modulesobtained from various mobile phone operators 102, 104.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the radio system 302, LTE. The threebasic elements of the radio system 302 are UE 300 (=mobile terminal),eNB (=base station) 304 in a radio network and an access gateway (a-GW)306 in a core network. In such a division, the mobile apparatus 110 iseither in the UE 300 or coupled to it, but not in the eNB 304 or in thea-GW 306.

The base station 304 may be called, depending on the system, a Node B,enhanced or evolved NodeB (eNB), a home eNode B (HeNB), an access point(AP), an IEEE 802.11 based access point, a femto node, a femto basestation, or any other equipment belonging to the network infrastructureof the wireless communication network 100, and implementing the radiocommunication interface with the mobile terminal 300. Functionalities ofthe eNB 304 may include: all radio protocols, mobility management, allretransmissions, header compression, and packet data convergenceprotocols. The a-GW 306 provides the interface of the cellular radiosystem 302 to/from the other networks 312 such as the Internet. The a-GW306 may be streamlined by separating the user and the control planes: amobility management entity (MME) 308 is just a control plane entity andthe user plane bypasses MME 308 directly to a serving gateway (S-GW)310.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the mobile apparatus 110 comprises a datacommunication interface 220, one or more processors 210, and one or morememories 200 including computer program code 202. Also the serverapparatus 140 comprises a data communication interface 240, one or moreprocessors 250, and one or more memories 260 including computer programcode 262. The one or more memories 200 and the computer program code 202of the mobile apparatus 110 are configured to, with the one or moreprocessors 210, cause the mobile apparatus 110 to perform variousoperations to be explained. The one or more memories 260 and thecomputer program code 262 of the server apparatus 140 are configured to,with the one or more processors 250, cause the server apparatus 140 toperform various operations to be explained.

In an example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the mobile apparatus 110and/or the server apparatus 140 may be an electronic digital computer,which may comprise, besides the processor 210/250, a non-volatile memory400 and a working memory 402 as the memory 200/260, and a system clock410. Naturally, the computer may comprise a number of other peripheraldevices, not illustrated here for the sake of clarity.

The term ‘processor’ 210/250 refers to a device that is capable ofprocessing data. Depending on the processing power needed, the apparatus110/140 may comprise several processors 210/250 such as parallelprocessors or a multicore processor. When designing the implementationof the processor 210/250, a person skilled in the art will consider therequirements set for the size and power consumption of the apparatus110/140, the necessary processing capacity, production costs, andproduction volumes, for example. The processor 210/250 and the memory200/260 may be implemented by an electronic circuitry.

In an example embodiment, the system clock 402 constantly generates astream of electrical pulses, which cause the various transferringoperations within the computer to take place in an orderly manner andwith specific timing.

In an example embodiment, the processor 210/250 may be implemented as amicroprocessor implementing functions of a central processing unit (CPU)on an integrated circuit. The CPU is a logic machine executing acomputer program code 202/262. The program code 202/262 may be coded asa computer program using a programming language, which may be ahigh-level programming language, such as C, or Java, or a low-levelprogramming language, such as a machine language, or an assembler. TheCPU may comprise a set of registers 404, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU)406, and a control unit (CU) 408. The control unit 408 is controlled bya sequence of the program code 202/262 transferred to the CPU from theworking memory 402. The control unit 408 may contain a number ofmicroinstructions for basic operations. The implementation of themicroinstructions may vary, depending on the CPU design. Themicroprocessor 210/250 may also have an operating system (a dedicatedoperating system of an embedded system, or a real-time operatingsystem), which may provide the computer program code 202/262 with systemservices.

A non-exhaustive list of implementation techniques for the processor210/250 and the memory 200/260 includes, but is not limited to: logiccomponents, standard integrated circuits, application-specificintegrated circuits (ASIC), system-on-a-chip (SoC), application-specificstandard products (ASSP), microprocessors, microcontrollers, digitalsignal processors, special-purpose computer chips, field-programmablegate arrays (FPGA), and other suitable electronics structures.

The computer program code 202/262 may be implemented by software and/orhardware. In an example embodiment, the software may be written by asuitable programming language, and the resulting executable code 202/262may be stored on the memory 200/260 and run by the processor 210/250.

In an example embodiment, the functionality of the hardware may bedesigned by a suitable hardware description language (such as Verilog orVHDL), and transformed into a gate-level netlist (describing standardcells and the electrical connections between them), and after furtherphases the chip implementing the processor 210, memory 200 and the code202 of the mobile apparatus 110 may be fabricated with photo masksdescribing the circuitry.

In an example embodiment, the processor 210 and the memory 200 of themobile apparatus 110 are a part of a microcontroller.

The working memory 402 and the non-volatile memory 400 may beimplemented by a random-access memory (RAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), staticRAM (SRAM), a flash memory, a solid state disk (SSD), PROM (programmableread-only memory), a suitable semiconductor, or any other means ofimplementing an electrical computer memory.

In an example embodiment, described in FIG. 2, the data communicationinterface 220, processor 210 and memory 200 are separate entities,communicatively coupled together by an appropriate serial bus, forexample. In general interfaces between the various elements may beimplemented with suitable interface technologies, such as a messageinterface, a method interface, a sub-routine call interface, a blockinterface, an appropriate serial/parallel bus, or any hardware/softwaremeans enabling communication between various sub-units of the mobileapparatus 110. However, in another example embodiment, there may not bea separate application processor, but the processor 210 and the memory200 are located in a radio module together with the data communicationinterface 220 and a wireless transceiver.

An example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 provides a computer-readablemedium 270, 280 for the mobile apparatus 110 and/or the server apparatus140 comprising the computer program code 272, 282. Said computer programcode 272, 282, when executed on the apparatus 110, 140, causes theapparatus 110, 140 to perform the operations required to implement thedescribed example embodiments. In an example embodiment, the computerprogram code 272, 282 may be in source code form, object code form,executable file, or in some intermediate form. The computer-readablemedium 270, 280 may comprise at least the following: any entity ordevice capable of carrying computer program code 272, 282 to theapparatus 110, 140, a record medium, a computer memory, a read-onlymemory, an electrical carrier signal, a telecommunications signal, and asoftware distribution medium. In some jurisdictions, depending on thelegislation and the patent practice, the computer-readable medium 270,280 may not be the telecommunications signal. In an example embodiment,the computer-readable medium 270, 280 may be a non-transitory computerreadable storage medium.

In an example embodiment, the server computer 140 is any computingresource capable of processing information relating to the sets 112, 122of the subscriber identity modules 114, 116, 124, 126 as a computer, aserver computer, a cluster of computers, a computing cloud, acentralized computing resource, or a distributed computing resource, forexample. In an example embodiment, the server apparatus 140 is theserver part of the client-server computing model that acts asdistributed application which partitions tasks or workloads between theprovider of a resource or service, called the server 140, and theservice requester, called the client 110, 120. The server apparatus 140may be a host that is running one or more server programs which sharetheir resources with clients 110, 120. The server apparatus 140 may alsooperate according to the cloud computing model implementing thenetwork-based service, which appears to be provided by real hardware,but is in fact provided by virtual hardware, simulated by softwarerunning on one or more real computers. Naturally, besides these exampleembodiments of the server apparatus 140, other feasible computingarchitectures may be utilized as well to implement the hardware andsoftware of the server apparatus 140. Consequently, besides operatingaccording to the client/server architecture, push technology may beutilized as well. In push technology, the request for a transaction isinitiated by the server apparatus 1400, whereas with the pull technologythe request for the information is initiated by mobile apparatus 110,120 (as in the client-server model).

FIG. 5 illustrates an example embodiment wherein the mobile apparatus110 functionality is implemented in an accessory 500 of a mobileterminal 510. Consequently, the accessory 500 accommodates the set 112of the subscriber identity modules 114, 116, and comprises one or moreprocessors 210 and one or more memories 200 with the computer programcode 202.

The accessory 500 may or may not comprise a battery 502, depending onthe power requirements of the accessory 500 and the possibility toobtain electric energy from an external source such as the mobileterminal 510. The (rechargeable) electrical battery 502 may be one ormore electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy intoelectrical energy. Instead of the battery 502, other suitableaccumulator means may be used to store energy.

The interface 118 to the subscriber identity modules 114, 116 is withinthe accessory 500, but also another interface 528 to the subscriberidentity module 530 possibly located in the mobile terminal 510 may beapplicable.

Furthermore, both the mobile terminal 510 and the accessory 500 comprisea wired/wireless standard/proprietary communication protocol interface220, 520 enabling two-way communication 506 between the mobile terminal510 and the accessory 500. In an example embodiment, the interface 204,220 is implemented as a serial or parallel communication bus, hardwareline, an USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable with appropriate connectors, aSIM bus according to ISO/IEC 7816-3, a wireless Bluetooth link, awireless WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) link, a wireless Wi-Fi(Wireless Fidelity) link, a serial bus such as UART (UniversalAsynchronous Receiver/Transmitter), I²C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) orSPI (System Packet Interface). The data relating to the subscriberidentity module 114, 116 and the data relating to the mobile terminal510 may be transferred between the mobile terminal 510 and the accessory500 through the interfaces 220, 520.

In an example embodiment, the mobile terminal 510 may be a mobilewireless communications terminal employing a transceiver 518 capable ofcommunicating with the wireless communication network 100. However, inanother example embodiment, the mobile terminal 510 does not itselfcomprise a wireless transceiver 518, but, instead, the mobile terminal510 communicates through a wireless transceiver 504 of the accessory500. Accordingly, the mobile terminal 510 may be a portable computer, atablet computer, or any other suitable mobile terminal capable of takingadvantage of the set 112 of the subscriber identity modules 114, 116,but not necessarily itself including a transceiver capable ofcommunicating with a wireless communication system 100.

In an example embodiment, the mobile terminal 510 is a computer, laptopcomputer, tablet computer, phablet, mobile phone, smartphone,general-purpose mobile computing device, or some other electronicapparatus enabling user interaction, for example. In an exampleembodiment, the mobile terminal 510 is a general-purpose off-the-shelfcomputing device, as opposed to a purpose-build proprietary equipment,whereby research & development costs will be lower as only thespecial-purpose software (and not the hardware) needs to be designed,implemented and tested. In an example embodiment, the mobile terminal510 is a smartphone or a tablet employing a multi-touch display and asuitable operating system such as iOS, Android, or Windows Phone, forexample. In an example embodiment, the mobile terminal 510 may comprisea default subscriber identity module 530, a user interface 516, abattery 512, one or more processors 522 and one or more memories 524with computer program code 526.

The user interface 516 may comprise a display, means for producingsound, a keyboard, and/or a keypad, for example. The display may be aliquid crystal display, for example, but it may also be implemented byany appropriate prior art technique, such as with an active-matrixorganic light-emitting diode. The display may also incorporate otheruser interaction means, such as touch input, or haptic feedback, i.e.the display may be a touch screen. The means for producing sound may bea loudspeaker or a simpler means for producing beeps or other soundsignals. The keyboard/keypad may comprise a complete (QWERTY) keyboard,a mere numeric keypad or only a few push buttons and/or rotary buttons.In addition, the user interface 516 may comprise other user interfaceelements, for example various means for focusing a cursor (mouse, trackball, various arrow keys, touch sensitive area etc.) or elementsenabling audio control. A parameter, setting or command relating to thedescribed processing of the subscriber identity modules 114, 116 may bemanipulated with the user interface 516.

Furthermore, the mobile terminal 510 may comprise a positioning receiver514 receiving external location information, which may be utilized togenerate location of the mobile terminal 510. The positioning receiver514 may be a receiver of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS).Such a system may be the Global Positioning System (GPS), the GlobalNavigation Satellite System (GLONASS), the Galileo Positioning System(Galileo), the Beidou Navigation System, The Quasi-Zenith SatelliteSystem (QZSS), or the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System(IRNSS), for example. The positioning receiver 514 determines itslocation (longitude, latitude, and altitude) using signals transmittedfrom satellites orbiting the earth. Besides global navigationsatellites, the positioning receiver 514 may also determine its locationby utilizing other known positioning techniques. It is well known thatby receiving radio signals from several different base stations, amobile phone may determine its location, for example.

In the example embodiment of FIG. 5, the accessory 500 does not comprisea user interface of its own, but the user interaction is performedthrough the user interface 516 of the mobile terminal 510 as data may betransferred between the accessory 500 and the mobile terminal 510through the interfaces 220, 520. However, in another example embodiment,the accessory 500 may comprise a user interface 508 as well foroutputting and/or inputting data relating to the described processing ofthe subscriber identity modules 114, 116.

In the example embodiment of FIG. 5, the mobile apparatus 110functionality may be implemented in the accessory 500 such that thecomputer program code 202 is run in the one or more processors 210 ofthe accessory 500. However, also such an example embodiment is feasiblewherein a part of the mobile apparatus 110 functionality is implementedin the mobile terminal 510 as well such that a part of the computerprogram code is also run in the at one or more processors 522 of themobile terminal 510.

In an example embodiment, the accessory 500 comprises a wirelesstransceiver 504 coupled with the data communication interface 220,whereby the accessory 500 may communicate directly with the serverapparatus 140 without having to pass the information through the mobileterminal 510 (even if the mobile terminal comprises the wirelesstransceiver 518).

In an example embodiment, the accessory 500 is a kind of containerincluding the subscriber identity modules 114, 116 to be used by themobile terminal 510, but the required processing is performed only inthe one or more processors 522 of the mobile terminal 510, i.e. theaccessory 500 does not comprise the processor or the memory with thecomputer program code. The data relating to the subscriber identitymodules 114, 116 may be transferred from the accessory 500 to the mobileterminal 510 through the interfaces 220, 520.

In an example embodiment the mobile apparatus 110 functionality isimplemented in an accessory 500 acting as a USB (Universal Serial Bus)modem. The USB modem 500 may or may not comprise a battery, depending onthe power requirements of the USB modem 500 and the possibility toobtain electric energy from an external source such as a mobile terminal510. Furthermore, the USB modem 500 comprises a USB interface 220capable of being coupled 506 through a USB cable and appropriateconnectors to a USB interface 520 of the mobile terminal 510.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example embodiment wherein the mobile apparatus110 functionality is implemented to a mobile terminal 600. Consequently,the mobile terminal 600 comprises the interface 118 to the set 112 ofthe subscriber identity modules 114, 116 of the wireless communicationsystem 100, the one or more processors 210, and the one or more memories200 storing the computer program code 202. The mobile terminal 600 mayalso comprise at least some of the other parts 512, 514, 516, 518, 528,530.

To summarize, in an example embodiment, the mobile apparatus 110, 120comprises at least one of the following: a mobile wirelesscommunications terminal 600, an accessory 500 of a mobile wirelesscommunications terminal 510, a combination of a mobile wirelesscommunications terminal 510 and an accessory 500 of the mobile wirelesscommunications terminal 510, an accessory of a mobile terminal 500, acombination of a mobile terminal 510 and an accessory 500 of the mobileterminal 510, a Universal Serial Bus USB modem 500. Furthermore, in anexample embodiment, each set 112, 122 of the subscriber identity modules114, 116, 124, 126 is accommodated by a mobile terminal 600 and/or anaccessory 500 of a mobile terminal 510.

Now that the operation environment, the mobile apparatus 110 and theserver apparatus 140 have been described, we may continue by describingthe dynamic functionality of the mobile apparatus 110 and the serverapparatus 140 with reference to FIG. 2.

The mobile apparatus 110 and the server apparatus 140 perform afive-step sequence of message exchanges and processing in order toimprove the utilization of the wireless communication networks 100 withthe updated preferred roaming lists 230, 232.

First, the mobile apparatus 110 is caused to transmit 212, with the datacommunication interface 220, usage data 154 about wireless communicationnetworks 100 as utilized by the mobile apparatus 110 associated with theset 112 of subscriber identity modules 114, 116 performing subscriberidentification and authentication in the wireless communication networks100.

Second, the server apparatus 140 is caused to receive 252, with the datacommunication interface 240, usage data 154, 158 about wirelesscommunication networks 100 as utilized by the plurality of the mobileapparatuses 110, 120 each associated with the set 112, 122 of thesubscriber identity modules 114, 116, 124, 126 performing subscriberidentification and authentication in the wireless communication networks100.

Third, the server apparatus 140 is caused to update 254 subscriberidentity module-specific preferred roaming lists on the basis of theusage data 154, 158.

Fourth, the server apparatus 140 is caused to transmit 256, with thedata communication interface 240, the updated preferred roaming lists156, 160 for use by the sets 112, 122 of the subscriber identity modules114, 116, 124, 126 in the plurality of the mobile apparatuses 110, 120.

Fifth, the mobile apparatus 110 is caused to receive 214, with the datacommunication interface 220, updated preferred roaming lists 156, 230,232 for use by the set 112 of the subscriber identity modules 114, 116,which preferred roaming lists 230, 232 have been updated in the serverapparatus 140 on the basis of the usage data 154, 158 about the wirelesscommunication networks 100 as utilized by the plurality of the mobileapparatuses 110, 120 each associated with the set 112, 122 of thesubscriber identity modules 114, 116, 124, 126 performing identificationand authentication in the wireless communication networks 100.

With the described five-step sequence at least one of the followingadvantages may be obtained: the connection set-up may be faster, theconnection set-up may be more reliable, the connection may be morereliable, the connection may better match with the subscriber and/orservice provider preferences. This is achieved with the server apparatus140, which collects the information from the plurality of subscribersand possibly also from other sources, and then based on this morecomplete information updates the preferred roaming lists, somethingwhich the single mobile apparatus 110 is not capable of performing. Ineffect, the server apparatus 140 performs the data collection andanalysis with a synergistic view.

FIG. 7 illustrates example embodiments relating to the usage data 154and the updated preferred roaming lists 156.

If required, further information of the preferred roaming lists 156 maybe obtained from relevant (telecommunications) standards, for example.

One such standard is “PRL Design, Maintenance and Testing, CDG Document140, Version 1.1., 17 Aug. 2006” published by CDMA Development Group (atthe time of writing this document in address www.cdg.org).

In an example embodiment, the preferred roaming list 230, 232 on eachsubscriber identity module 114, 116, 124, 126 instructs the mobileapparatus 110, 120 of wireless communication networks 100 and theirutilization.

In an example embodiment, the preferred roaming list 230, 232 comprisesinformation used during the selection and acquisition of the wirelesscommunication network 100.

In an example embodiment, the preferred roaming list 230, 232 indicateswhich radio frequency bands, sub bands and service provider identifierswill be scanned while accessing (initially and during roaming) thewireless communication networks 100. The preferred roaming list 230, 232may also give a priority order of the scanning.

In an example embodiment, the preferred roaming list 230, 232 enablesroaming which means that the subscriber may obtain service outside ofthe home area. A user typically residing in Finland may access the localwireless communication network 100 with the first subscriber identitymodule 114 of the set 112, and as the user roams to London, England,s/he may access the local wireless communication network 100 withanother subscriber identity module 116 of the set 112, for example.

In an example embodiment, the one or more memories 200 and the computerprogram code 202 are further configured to, with the one or moreprocessors 210, cause the mobile apparatus 110 further to detect roamingof the mobile terminal, and to initiate a selection of the at least oneoptimal subscriber identity module 114, 116 for use by the mobileterminal. Roaming is the ability for a cellular customer toautomatically make and receive voice calls, send and receive data, oraccess other services when travelling outside the geographical coveragearea of the home network, by means of using a visited network. Roamingis technically supported by mobility management, authentication andbilling procedures. If the visited network is in the same country as thehome network, this is known as National Roaming. If the visited networkis outside the home country, this is known as International (or Global)Roaming. If the visited network operates on a different technicalstandard than the home network, this is known as Inter-standard roaming.GSM Coverage Maps is a unique resource containing information suppliedand approved by the members of the GSM Association. Network, servicesand roaming information are continually updated to reflect the evolvingsituation worldwide.

For example: the accessory 500 may inactivate the mobile terminal 510,and scan SIM data from the set of available subscriber identity modules114, 116 that are located in the accessory 500. Next, the accessory 500may ask available networks from the mobile terminal 510, whereupon themobile terminal 510 returns the available networks to the accessory 500.The accessory 500 then selects at least one optimal subscriber identitymodule 114, 116 for use by the mobile terminal as the active SIM on thebasis of the data relating to the subscriber identity modules 114, 116and at least one selection ground for the subscriber identity module.After the suitable subscriber identity module 114 is selected as active,the accessory 500 instructs the mobile terminal 510 to reconnect to thenetwork 100 with the optimal active subscriber identity module 114 suchthat the operator 102 is selected on the basis of the updated preferredroaming list 230 of the selected subscriber identity module 114.

The selection ground for the subscriber identity module may comprise anetwork coverage criterion, available services criterion, quality ofservice criterion, costs of using the subscriber identity modulecriterion, location of the mobile terminal criterion etc. The variouscriteria may be used alone or in combination. A simple selection groundcould be formulated as follows: “use the cheapest subscriber identitymodule 114, 116 that provides the required service at the requiredquality of service in the present location of the mobile terminal bynetwork operator A if available, and if operator A is not available thenby any other operator fulfilling the criteria”, but this is only anexample embodiment, as the selection ground may be made much simpler butalso much more complex. But, as understood, the selection procedureutilizing a selection ground is augmented with the preferred roaminglists 230, 232.

In an example embodiment, the preferred roaming list 156 comprises alist 710 of prioritized wireless communication networks 100 permitted toaccess. For example: first, access the wireless communication network100 of the first operator 102, and second, access the wirelesscommunication network 100 of the other operator 104 (if the firstoperator 102 network 100 is unavailable).

In an example embodiment, the preferred roaming list 156 furthercomprises a list of wireless communication networks 100 forbidden toaccess. For example: do not access the wireless communication network100 of a specific operator.

In an example embodiment, each updated preferred roaming list 156 is asubscriber identity module-specific preferred roaming list 714. This maymean that each subscriber identity module 114, 116 comprises its ownpreferred roaming list 230, 232 as illustrated in FIG. 2. As illustratedin FIG. 7, the subscriber identity modules 114, 116 may be arranged intodifferent groups. Each subscriber may have an own collection ofsubscriber identity module-specific preferred roaming lists 716 as thesubscriber has the subscriber identity modules 114, 116 as the set 112.Additionally, the subscriber identity module-specific preferred roaminglists 714 may be grouped in an area-specific fashion 718: certainpreferred roaming lists (and, consequently, certain subscriber identitymodules) are valid for a certain geographic area (London etc.).Additionally, or alternatively, the subscriber identity module-specificpreferred roaming lists 714 may be grouped in a group-specific fashion:certain preferred roaming lists (and, consequently, certain subscriberidentity modules) are valid for a certain subscriber group (users of aspecific corporation or company etc.).

In an example embodiment, the usage data 154 comprises preferred roaminglists 230, 232 obtained from the subscriber identity modules 114, 116,124, 126 belonging to the sets 112, 122.

In an example embodiment, a preferred roaming list 230, 232 of aspecific subscriber identity module 114, 116 has been updated during useon the basis of success of use of a specific wireless communicationnetwork 100 accessed with the specific subscriber identity module 114,116.

In an example embodiment, the usage data 154 comprises information on atleast one of the following relating to the utilization of the wirelesscommunication networks 100: connectivity 700, connection performance702, connection quality 704. Connectivity 700, connection performance702 and connection quality 704 determine characteristics of a radio linkbetween the mobile terminal 300 and the base station 304 based on realexperience gathered during the utilization of the wireless communicationnetworks 100 with the set 112 of subscriber identity modules 114, 116.

In an example embodiment, the usage data 154 comprises general dataabout the wireless communication networks 100 as gathered by the serverapparatus 140 from various sources. For example: the operators 102, 104may provide up-to-date information about costs, availability,functioning, downtime, rush hours, hot spots and other things whichaffect the performance of the wireless communication networks 100, and,consequently, may have an influence on the preferred roaming lists 230,232, on the contents of the list 710 of the prioritized wirelesscommunication networks 100 permitted to access and/or on the list 712 ofthe wireless communication networks 100 forbidden to access, forexample.

Next, let us study FIG. 8, which is a flow chart illustrating exampleembodiments of a method and example embodiments of both the serverapparatus 140 and the mobile apparatus 110. The operations are notstrictly in chronological order, and some of the operations may beperformed simultaneously or in an order differing from the given ones.Other functions may also be executed between the operations or withinthe operations and other data exchanged between the operations. Some ofthe operations or part of the operations may also be left out orreplaced by a corresponding operation or part of the operation. Itshould be noted that no special order of operations is required, exceptwhere necessary due to the logical requirements for the processingorder. In an example embodiment, the method may be implemented by anelectronic apparatus, by the described server apparatus 140 and/or bythe mobile apparatus 110, for example.

The method starts in 800.

In 802, usage data about wireless communication networks 100 as utilizedby the plurality of mobile apparatuses 110, 120 each associated with theset 112, 122 of subscriber identity modules 114, 116, 124, 126performing subscriber identification and authentication in the wirelesscommunication networks 100 is gathered.

In an example embodiment of 814, the usage data is transmitted by theplurality of the mobile apparatuses 110, 120.

In an example embodiment of 816, the usage data is received by theserver apparatus 140.

In 804, subscriber identity module-specific preferred roaming lists areupdated on the basis of the usage data. In an example embodiment, theupdate is performed in the server apparatus 140.

In 806, the updated preferred roaming lists are distributed for use bythe sets 112, 122 of the subscriber identity modules 114, 116, 124, 126in the plurality of the mobile apparatuses 110, 120. In an exampleembodiment, the updated preferred roaming lists are transmitted by theserver apparatus 140 and received by the plurality of the mobileapparatuses 110, 120.

The method ends in 808.

The operations 802-804-806 and the supplementary operations may berepeated 810 as required.

The already described example embodiments of the server apparatus 140and the mobile apparatus 120 and the example embodiments that will bedescribed in the following for the server apparatus 140 and the mobileapparatus 110 may be utilized to enhance the method with various furtherexample embodiments. For the sake of keeping the description compact,the description that follows for FIG. 8 will explain the exampleembodiments for the server apparatus 140 and the mobile apparatus 100but at the same time refer to the flow-chart of FIG. 8.

In an example embodiment of 812, prior to receiving the usage data, theserver apparatus 140 requests the usage data from the plurality of themobile apparatuses 110, 120.

In an example embodiment of 818 and 822, prior to updating thesubscriber identity module-specific preferred roaming lists, the serverapparatus 140 analyses the usage data in order to rank the wirelesscommunication networks 100 into a ranking order, and updates thesubscriber identity module-specific preferred roaming lists on the basisof usage data such that the ranking order is followed.

In an example embodiment of 820 and 824, prior to updating thesubscriber identity module-specific preferred roaming lists, the serverapparatus 140 receives, with the data communication interface 240,general data about the wireless communication networks 100, and updatesthe subscriber identity module-specific preferred roaming lists on thebasis of the usage data and further on the basis of the general data.

In an example embodiment of 826, the server apparatus 140 transmits,with the data communication interface 240, the updated preferred roaminglists for use by the sets 112, 122 of the subscriber identity modules114, 116, 124, 126 in the plurality of the mobile apparatuses 110, 120such that the updated preferred roaming lists are preloaded in thesubscriber identity modules 114, 116, 124, 126 of the set 112, 122 beingaccommodated in the mobile apparatus 110, 120. The preloading may bedone in the installation process of the new mobile apparatus 110, 120:the service provider may purchase large quantities of subscriberidentity modules 114, 116, 124, 126 and place them into the mobileapparatus 110, 120, which is then sold and delivered to the user readyfor use.

In a further example embodiment of 826, the updated preferred roaminglists are preloaded simultaneously in the plurality of the sets 112, 122of the subscriber identity modules 114, 116, 124, 126. In an exampleembodiment, the subscriber identity modules 114, 116, 124, 126 areplaced into the mobile apparatus 110, 120, whereupon the serverapparatus 140 broadcasts the preferred roaming lists and the mobileapparatuses 110, 120 received the preferred roaming lists with wirelesstransceivers.

It is to be noted that these two last example embodiments may be a partof another example embodiment, which may be implemented in a stand-alonefashion, i.e. independent of the other example embodiments described inthis application.

This other, stand-alone example embodiment offers a way to configure themobile apparatus 110 before the use, in a factory, for example.

Normally, the end user configures a new subscriber identity module afterreceived from an operator. Typically s/he sets it into a SIM slot of amobile terminal, switches on the mobile terminal, and inputs the PINcode of the SIM. Then the mobile terminal connects the SIM to theoperator. The operator may acknowledge that by an SMS message. The SIMcard may send an activation SMS message, and receive a response SMSmessage. Other ways are also possible with different types of SIMs,especially with prepaid SIMs. If the mobile terminal has two SIM cards,the first SIM is configured first and after that the second SIM isconfigured as needed and instructed.

As explained in this application, a mobile apparatus 110 may containmany SIM cards and these or some of them are preinstalled in themanufacturing line of the service provider. The SIM cards are typicallyalso different, requiring different configuring procedures.

The production configuration managing device configures all the SIMcards automatically. It reads and detects the SIM cards in the mobileapparatus 110. It has a list of instructions to the each SIM card. Alsoit has process steps and a time consumed for each configuration step foreach SIM card.

The process steps and the time needed may be obtained by having a testsequence or measuring the time needed to each process step during theconfiguration process.

Based on the test sequence needed by each SIM card, the configurationprocess is optimized by doing parallel SIM configuration for more thanone SIM card. For example, when waiting an SMS message response from anoperator, another SIM card configuration is going on with inputting aPIN code.

During the process, the configuration managing device collectsinformation about the time consumed for each process step, success ofthe configuration, failures or repeated process steps and other qualityinformation.

The production device configures one or more SIM cards according theinstructions automatically.

The production device may configure two or more SIM cardssimultaneously.

The production device optimizes configuration procedure and stepsaccording to the instructions for each SIM card type.

An optimizing parameter is a configuration time for the whole SIM carddevice.

The production device records time and quality parameters related to theconfiguration procedure.

A quality parameter indicates successful or unsuccessful connection toan operator, a configuration result, and/or a number of repeated processsteps.

The production device may analyze and create a report of recorded timeand quality parameters.

The production device utilizes new data of analyzed time and qualityparameters.

The configuration process may be as follows:

set SIM cards to slots of the mobile apparatus 110;

couple the mobile apparatus 110 with the production apparatus;

switch the mobile apparatus 110 on;

the production device checks and reads the SIM cards in the mobileapparatus 110;

the production device reads the instructions from its memory;

the production device optimizes the configuration procedure;

the production device configures the SIM cards and keeps records of timeand success of the process steps; and

the production device saves time and quality parameters in its memory.

It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as technologyadvances, the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. Theinvention and its embodiments are not limited to the example embodimentsdescribed above but may vary within the scope of the claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A server apparatus comprising: a networkcommunication interface; one or more processors; and one or morememories storing computer program code that, when executed by the one ormore processors, cause the one or more processors to: receive, via thenetwork communication interface, usage data about wireless communicationnetworks as utilized by a plurality of mobile apparatuses, each mobileapparatus associated with a set of prepaid subscriber identity modules(SIMs) performing subscriber identification and authentication in thewireless communication networks, the usage data comprising preferredroaming lists obtained from the prepaid SIMs belonging to the sets, andinformation on at least one of the following relating to utilization ofthe wireless communication network with a specific prepaid SIM:connectivity, connection performance, connection quality; update aSIM-specific preferred roaming list of the specific prepaid SIM based onthe received usage data including success of use of a specific wirelesscommunication network accessed with the specific prepaid SIM; groupprepaid SIMs in an area-specific fashion; group prepaid SIMs in agroup-specific fashion; and transmit, via the network communicationinterface, the updated SIM-specific preferred roaming list for use bycorresponding prepaid SIMs among the sets of prepaid SIMs in theplurality of mobile apparatuses such that the updated SIM-specificpreferred roaming list is preloaded in the corresponding prepaid SIMs,wherein a service provider assembles the plurality of sets of prepaidSIMs, the service provider being an independent supplier obtaining theplurality of sets of prepaid SIMs from various network operators andproviding the plurality of sets of prepaid SIMs to be marketed and soldto end-users of the plurality of mobile apparatuses.
 2. The serverapparatus of claim 1, wherein the SIM-specific preferred roaming listcomprises a prioritized list of wireless communication networks that arepermitted to be accessed.
 3. The server apparatus of claim 2, whereinthe SIM-specific preferred roaming list further comprises a list ofwireless communication networks that are forbidden to be accessed. 4.The server apparatus of claim 1, wherein each set of prepaid SIMs isaccommodated by at least one of: a mobile terminal or an accessory of amobile terminal.
 5. The server apparatus of claim 1, wherein thecomputer program code further includes code that, when executed by theone or more processors, causes the one or more processors to: prior toreceiving the usage data, request the usage data from the plurality ofmobile apparatuses.
 6. The server apparatus of claim 1, wherein thecomputer program code further includes code that, when executed by theone or more processors, causes the one or more processors to: prior toupdating the SIM-specific preferred roaming list, analyze the receivedusage data in order to rank the wireless communication networks into aranking order; and update the SIM-specific preferred roaming list basedon the usage data such that the ranking order is followed.
 7. The serverapparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer program code further includescode that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the oneor more processors to: prior to updating the SIM-specific preferredroaming list, receive, via the network communication interface, generaldata about the wireless communication networks; and update theSIM-specific preferred roaming list based on the usage data and thereceived general data.
 8. The server apparatus of claim 1, wherein theupdated SIM-specific preferred roaming list is preloaded simultaneouslyin the corresponding prepaid SIMs.
 9. A mobile apparatus comprising: anetwork communication interface; one or more processors; and one or morememories storing computer program code that, when executed by the one ormore processors, cause the one or more processors to: transmit, via thenetwork communication interface, usage data about wireless communicationnetworks utilized by the mobile apparatus in association with at leastone prepaid subscriber identity modules (SIM) performing subscriberidentification and authentication in the wireless communicationnetworks, the usage data comprising preferred roaming lists obtainedfrom a plurality of prepaid SIMs, and information on at least one of thefollowing relating to utilization of the wireless communication networkwith a specific prepaid SIM: connectivity, connection performance, econnection quality, a SIM-specific preferred roaming list having beenupdated, by a server apparatus, based on the transmitted usage dataincluding success of use of a specific wireless communication networkaccessed with the specific prepaid SIM by another mobile apparatus; andreceive, via the network communication interface, the updatedSIM-specific preferred roaming list for use by the at least one prepaidSIM associated with the mobile apparatus, the updated SIM-specificpreferred roaming list is preloaded in the at least one prepaid SIMassociated with the mobile apparatus, the prepaid SIMs are grouped in anarea-specific fashion, and the prepaid SIMs are grouped in agroup-specific fashion, wherein a service provider assembles theplurality of prepaid SIMs, the service provider being an independentsupplier obtaining the plurality of prepaid SIMs from various networkoperators and providing the plurality of sets of prepaid SIMs to bemarketed and sold to end-users of a plurality of the mobile apparatuses.10. A method comprising: gathering, via a network communicationinterface, usage data about wireless communication networks as utilizedby a plurality of mobile apparatuses, each mobile apparatus associatedwith a set of prepaid subscriber identity modules (SIMs) performingsubscriber identification and authentication in the wirelesscommunication networks, the usage data comprising preferred roaminglists obtained from the prepaid SIMs belonging to the sets, andinformation on at least one of the following relating to utilization ofthe wireless communication network with a specific prepaid SIMconnectivity, connection performance, connection quality; updating aSIM-specific preferred roaming list of the specific prepaid SIM based onthe received usage data including success of use of a specific wirelesscommunication network accessed with the specific prepaid SIM; groupingprepaid SIMs in an area-specific fashion; grouping prepaid SIMs in agroup-specific fashion; and distributing, via the network communicationinterface, the updated SIM-specific preferred roaming list for use bycorresponding prepaid SIMs among the sets of prepaid SIMs in theplurality of mobile apparatuses such that the updated SIM-specificpreferred roaming list is preloaded in the corresponding prepaid SIMs,wherein a service provider assembles the plurality of sets of prepaidSIMs, the service provider being an independent supplier obtaining theplurality of sets of prepaid SIMs from various network operators andproviding the plurality of sets of prepaid SIMs to be marketed and soldto end-users of the plurality of the mobile apparatuses.